Satsangs

Satsang is a compound Sanskrit word that means “keeping the company of the Self.” The Self, Awareness, is the true nature of everyone and one keeps company with it by continually meditating on it in many ways. One of the most effective methods involves discussing non-dual teachings with someone who has realized his or her identity as the Self, to get clarity with reference to Self inquiry. The satsangs posted here are the questions of many people around the world who are interested in enlightenment and find that Vedanta is their preferred means of Self knowledge. Since I am a teacher of Vedanta, a time tested means of self inquiry, I am qualified to reply to these questions.~James Swartz

ShiningWorld Reader

Terrance: Hi, James. Thanks
for your reply, much appreciated! Just a brief follow-up, if I may,
on “saying no to Isvara.”
One of the key points that clicked for me during your seminar was
that Isvara
gives us our vasanas,
good and bad. There is a relief from guilt in knowing I am not even
the creator of my own vasanas.
But with that understanding also comes a certain temptation to
sidestep any responsibility for one’s own bad behavior. Yes, Isvara
is the totality, and therefore excludes nothing – good, bad, ugly
or beautiful – but saying, “Isvara
made me do it,” is still no excuse for acting like an asshole or
cheating people in business dealings, etc. One still has to exercise
one’s apparent free will in the context of the life choices one
makes from moment to moment: Does this action feel dharmic
or adharmic?
It’s not always easy to decide, but once you step back and view it
from the perspective of ordinary, actionless awareness, it becomes
much more transparently obvious whether or not an action is
appropriate.

James:
Yes, the “say no to Isvara”
teaching implies discrimination, the view from awareness. Without it,
the ego will use it as an excuse to do what it wants irrespective of
dharma.

Terrance:
I also wanted to mention that your class
gave me a new appreciation for the Bhagavad
Gita. Most of my study has been in the major
Upanishads
and commentaries thereon, as well as the Brahma
Sutras. You’ve managed to “turn me on”
again to the BG,
so thanks for that. I guess I had been “gifted” one or two copies
too many of the BG
by orange-robed bald people in airports and bus terminals. It’s
pretty amazing to me that the BG
is also a core text for dualists!

James:
Yes, indeed. It’s a great text. My guru
taught it every day for 40 years. If you like the more “advanced”
texts, you might keep an eye on the shop in the website where my
teaching of Panchadasi
at Trout Lake two weeks ago will soon appear. It think you will find
it helpful.

Terrance:
One part of the discussion on the BG
helped to resolve a major problem I was having at the time. I’m
referring to III: 29, “One who knows the self should not disturb the
understanding of the undiscriminating ones who don’t.” I won’t
bore you with the details, but I’m still trying to extract myself
(as dharmically
as possible) from long-term involvement with a spiritual system I no
longer adhere to, but a system in which my role has been that of a
leader and teacher. I have vacillated about whether or not to explain
my shift to Vedanta, and to educate my fellow seekers and students on
why the approach in question is flawed and dualistic in nature. A
clearer understanding of that BGsutra
really helped here. It’s simply none of my business to teach these
people about Vedanta. I’m not qualified to do so anyway, and I have
to leave it to Isvara
whether any of these folks “find” the teaching. It’s not up to
me to convince or convert anybody, or to help remove someone else’s
ignorance. This too was a great relief!

James:
You are a man after own my heart, Terrance. It is one of my favorite
verses, one that almost singlehandedly sealed my interest in Vedanta.
We lived in Idaho and suffered a plague of Mormon and Watchtower
zealots at the door on a nearly daily basis. I always had a spiritual
vasana
but was completely turned off to religion owing to the “we know
best” attitude. Having said that, everyone who doesn’t have a
valid means of self-knowledge has doubts about their path, and are
sometimes benefited by an oblique comment that piques their interest.
But the “I’ve finally found the light” approach is a tad
sickening. A gentle extraction is indeed wise.

~
Love, James

Contacting Shining World

For years I have happily and diligently responded to communications on the topic of Self realization. Since the publication of my book, “How to Attain Enlightenment”— currently in its third printing —and the success of this website, the volume of emails has increased considerably. Unfortunately, owing to a busy schedule of teaching and writing, I am no longer able to answer all the emails I receive in a timely fashion. However, my wife, who is also a teacher, and several well-qualified teachers we have endorsed are available to answer emails on my behalf. I encourage you to send them your questions.
— James SwartzContact Us